A film about the Aramoana killings has been awarded an R15 rating, despite opposition from some local people to it being filmed at all. The film's director says he is pleased at the rating because it means the film can be studied by young people.
The decision from the New Zealand Censor's office comes as the US had its third school shooting in the past week.
Should the Aramoana film have been made? Does media coverage of these events help people to understand why they happen and prevent them happening again, or does it do the opposite?
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Having seen
Out Of The Blue
at the premiere in Toronto, I have to say calls to ban it are misplaced. Yes, it's based on an actual event; yes, it depicts random violence taking place; but it can't possibly be considered to glorify what took place, or encourage others to try it. Sarkies' film raises more questions than it answers; it doesn't attempt to rationalise or explain David Gray's actions, and it certainly doesn't provide a pat Hollywood ending where a hero rides in to save the day. What it shows is a community struggling to cope with what one of their own is doing, from the neighbours taking shelter overnight to police and rescue services faced with impossible choices. If there is a lasting message to be drawn from the film, it's this: that we really need to understand and look after each other in our society, rather than pushing people out to the edge of the community, isolating them. Banning the film would be burying the event; I think in time
